Electric switch



April 4 I J. ca. JACKSON 2,239,099

ELECTRI'C SWITCH Filed July 2, 1937 3 Sheets- Sheet l INVENTOR John 6. Jackson.

April 22, 1941.

J. G. JACKSQN ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 2, 1957 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 2 k v, 00 5 M w mm E 6/ A ril 22, 1941. J. G. JACKSON 2,239,099

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 2, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet s 11v VENTOR BY (john G. Jae/(son.

Patented Apr. 22, 1941 ELECTRIC SWITCH John G. Jackson, Detroit, Mich assignmto Square D Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application July 2, 1937, Serial No. 151,710

10 Claims.

' thereof to limit the operating space needed infront of the base and with operating means at the back of the base to provide accessibility to the switching parts.

Another object of the invention is an electric switch mounted within an enclosure on a hinged support providing for swinging movement of the switch to the exterior of the enclosure, with quick make and break operating means mounted on and movable with the support and with economies of space and a maximum of accessibility to the switching parts.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved quick make and quick break operating means for a manually operated electric switch.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved mounting means for an electric switch.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following Specification and the appended drawings' illustrating certain preferred embodiments of the invention in which:

. Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an electric switch according to the present invention with the cover opened.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 11-11 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial vertical sectional view on .the line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a partial vertical sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a partial vertical sectional view on the line V-V of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detailed sectional view on the line.

VI-VI oi Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 but directed to a construction providing for quick break operation only.

Figure 8 is a detailed sectional view on the line VIIIVIII of Figure '7.

The electric switch according to the present invention comprises an enclosing box I having a front cover 2 hingedly mounted thereon. Hingedly mounted to the same side wall of the box to which the cover 2 is hinged is a generally U- shaped mounting pan 3. The opposite side wall of the box is provided with slots in which are received studs 4 threaded into the pan and tightenable against the side wall of the box to securely hold the pan within the box. Upon forwardly extending flanges 5"at the top and bottom of the pan 3 is disposed an insulating base 6 supporting the parts of the switch proper. At intermediate parts of the base slots 1 are provided extending through the base. Within the bottom portion of these slots are mounted the hinge jaws 8 having integral supporting straps 9 extending over the front of the base and secured rigidly thereto by studs ll extending from the back of the base. Within the hinge jaws 8 are ivotally mounted knife-blade switching members l2 to which are rigidly secured generally arcuate shaped insulating blade hooks l3 extending through the slots 1 and into the space between the back of the base and the pan 3. Above the slots 1 and in line therewith the base is provided with recesses ll communicating with the front of the base in which are disposed the contact jaws i5 having integral supporting straps l6 extending over the front of the base and there connected by means of studs H. The aligned re-.

cesses l4 and slots 1 are connected by further cut-out portions in the base providing clearance for the knife blade l2 in its interior position.

Arc suppressor means are provided for each cooperating plate and jaw and these comprise spaced insulating plates l8 uponthe exterior of which are rigidly secured magnetic brackets l9 extending along the sides of the plates [8 and joined together beneath the plates and above the contact laws. The suppressors are mounted by a stud 2| threaded into the base or bight of the bracket IS. A metallic deflecting portion 22 bridges the plates adjacent to the front edges thereof and serves to deflect the are from the front cover. The are suppressor as shown and as here described is in its most complete form for the highest voltage and current rating of the switch. For the lower voltage values the insulating plates l8 and deflecting portion 22 are omitted and the arc suppressor is formed entirely therefrom are the cooperating lower fuse clips 24, all mounted on the front face of the base. Barrier portions 25 integral with the base are provided and auxiliary barrier walls of insulation 26 are also provided on the front face of the base.

At the back of the base 6 the arcuate hooks I3 are provided adjacent their unattached ends with notches 21 against one of the ends of which is disposed a generally U-shaped operating bail 29. This bail is mounted for rotation in the opposite vertical side walls of the pan 3 and at the side opposite the hinges thereof extends for a considerable distance beyond the enclosing box for connection to the exterior operating handle. Stops 3| are rigidly connected to the opposite side walls of the pan to limit the extremes of movement of the bail. The bottom of the pan adjacent its hinged side is provided with an elongated cup extension with of the extension 45 on the handle hub while the spring end 42 remains stationary due to its 32 to which is hingedly mounted a spring guide 33 having a slot 34 adjacent its free end receiving the horizontal portion of the bail 29. A compression spring 35 is mounted about the arm 33 and exerts its force between the ball 29 at the front and flanges 36 on the arm 33 at the back. To the portion of the bar 29 exterior to the box there is rigidly secured a disc 31 having a pin 33 rigidly mounted eccentrically thereof. The disc 31 is mounted by means of a hub 39 rigid therewith and rigidly secured adjacent to the end of the bail 29. About the hub 39 is disposed a spiral spring 4| having its end portions 42 and 43 disposed on opposite sides of the pin 39. The exterior operating handle 44 includes a cup shaped hub 45 having at its inner periphery a projection 49 also disposed between the ends 42 and 43 of the spring 4|, and with projections 41 and 43 which are spaced about and disposed at opposite sides of a second pin 49 rigid with the disc 31. The handle 44 is movable relative to the disc 91 and thevbail 29 between the stops formed by the projections 41 and 48 as they engage with the pin 49. The handle 44 is mounted on the bail 29 in any desired manner, as shown by a pin and washer arrangement 5 I. opposite the hinges is provided with a slot 52 receiving the ball 29 in the interior position of the switch.

The mounting pan 3 is mounted with its back portion spaced from the back wall of the base in order to provide a space for circuit wires and it is to be noted that this pan together with the cup 32 act to entirely shield the wires from contact with moving parts.

The operation of the switch will now be described. To draw in circuit wires or connect conduit, etc., it is desired to have the interior of the box as accessible as possible. Hence, for this and other similar operations the studs 4 are loosened and the entire switch swung outwardly on the pan .3 to the box exterior leaving the interior of The side wall of the box.

the box entirely empty. After this operation the switch may be again swung to its interior position whereuponthe bail arm 29 passes into the slot 52 and the studs 4 are received within their slots and. thereafter tightening of the studs 4 will rigidly secure the switch within the enclosing box in operating position. 'To operate the switching parts the exterior handle 44 is pulled downwardly and upwardly. when in its upper position as viewed in Figure 1, the parts are in the closed circuit position with the contact ends of blades l2 engaged within the jaws l5. When the handle is pulled downwardly from this P sition tension is first built up in the spring 4| by movement of occurs the movement of ball 29 through the dead center position of spring 35 is effected quickly by the expenditure of the energy stored in spring 4| and this movement is effected independently of further movement of the operating handle 44. As this movement occurs thebail 29 engages the base of the U-shaped bracket 28 and moves the arcuate members l3 which in turn move theblades 2 to which they are connected into the open circuit position as shown in Figure 4. The point at which the energy in spring 4| throws the spring 35 over center occurs before the blade l2 leaves the jaw l5 so that a true quick break is effected. As the spring 35 has passed over center the energy of this spring serves to move the ball 29 to its full open circuit position. In moving the parts to closed circuit position the operation is in reverse as here the spring end.42 is compressed until stop 41 engages pin 29 when the movement of the bail becomes positive with respect to the operating handle. Again the energy in spring 4| throws the spring 35 back over center and this occurs before the-blades 2 have engaged their jaws l5. In this movement the ball 29 is pressing against the end of the slot 21 opposite to that in which the bracket 29 is disposed. While the spring 35 has only one dead center position the spring 4| serves to throw it through this position independently of the outside handle so that there is formed an operating characteristic resulting in two effective dead center positions at either side of the true dead center position of the spring 35.

This enables the setting of one dead center position before the contacts disengage in moving to open circuit position and the other before the contacts'engage in moving to closed circuit position. thus providing for true quick make and true quick break operation. 3

Due to the positioning of the hinge jaw 8 within the slot 1 and the contact jaw l5 within the recess |4 it is noted that while the blade I2 is of considerable length in its open position it extends forwardly a lesser distance than in conventional type switches wherein the jaws are mounted forwardly of the base. This provides for a compact structure and the disposition of the operating bail and other parts at the back of the base leaves the front entirely clear for access while providing a relatively short depth to the working parts over what would be expected of the the spring end 43 caused by engagement th handle 44. over center spring 35 and associated 4 parts, spring 4| and all the parts associated with these have been replaced by a single continuous the bracket 28 compressing the spring 55. [when the spring 55 is compressed against the back of the bracket the movement becomes positive and remains positive until the blade I2 is leaving the jaw l5 whereupon the force stored in spring 55 becomes greater than that necessary to move the blade and the blade is snapped open by the release of the spring energy independent of the gageable by portions respectively rigid with said handle and crank whereby a spring bias is placed on said crank by movement of the handle in either direction, said spring bias being sufllciently strong to quickly move the crank through the dead center position of said over-center spring.

3. An electric switch comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, a supporting pan hingedly mounted on said box in spaced relation to the back wall thereof, an insulating base mounted on said pan in spaced relation thereto, switching elements mounted on the front face of said base and having operating means connected thereto and extending to the back of the base, an operating crank disposed between the back face of said base and said pan and having a lost mo-' tion connection with said operating means, overcenter spring means connected to said crank, an

movement of the handle 54. This structure provides a simple and inexpensive quick break mechanism utilizing the identical base and switching parts of the more expensive switch construction previously described and substitutes a simple continuous bail and leaf spring for the over center and spiral springs and relatively movable handle and hail previously described. This results in the production of a full quick make and quick break operating switch and a simple quick break only operating switch with the majority of parts common so that greater standardization and increased production at lowered cost result.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto as many variations will be'readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric switch, an enclosing box havexterior operating handle having a lost motion connection with said crank, and a torsion spring connection between said handle and crank adapted to apply a spring bias on said crank upon movement of the operating handle sufficiently strong to quickly throw said over-center spring through its deadcenter position.

4. An electric switch comprising. a base, a, plurality of recesses in the front face of said base, hinge and contact Jaws disposed in paired spaced relation in each of said recesses, a contact blade hingedly mounted on each of said hinge jaws and adapted to cooperate with the paired contact jaws to perform the switching operation, openings to the back of the base communicating with each of said recesses, insulatingmeans connected to said blades and extending through said openings to the back of the base, a'bracket interconnecting said insulating means at the back of the base, an operating bail ,disposed at the back of the base and having alost motion connection with said bracket, over-center spring means connected to said bail for moving the same to its opposite extreme positions, and a manually oping an openable cover, a hingedly mounted supporting pan mounted on said box in spaced relation to the back wall thereof, an operating bail pivoted in said pan and movable therewith, a cup-shaped extension on the back surface of said pan, a spring guide pivotally mounted in said extension and engageable with said ball, a compression spring about said guide and adapted to be moved through a dead center position by movement of said bail, a manually engageable handle portion at the exterior of said box for eifecting movement of said bail, an insulating base mounted on said pan in front of said bail, switching elements mounted on the front face of said base, and operating means attachable to said elements and extending through said base into engagement with said bail for effecting movement of the switching parts in response to movement of the bail to perform the switching opera tion.

' 2. An electric switch comprising an enclosing box having an openable cover, a supporting pan hingedly mounted on said box in spaced relation to the back wall thereof, an insulating base mounted on said pan, switching elements on said base, an operation crank pivotally mounted on said pan and having a lost motion connection with said elements, an over-center spring mounted on said pan and connected to said crank, an operating handle at the exterior of the box and having a lost motion connection with said crank, and a torsion spring having its opposite ends enerable means having a lost motion connection with said bail to effect movement thereof to perform the switching operation.

5. An electric switch comprising a base, a plu-- to said blades and extending through said open ings to the back of the base, a bracket interconnecting said insulating means at the back of the base, an operating bail disposed at the back of the base and having a lost motion connection with said bracket, over-center spring means conport disposed in said opening, a recess in the front face of said base. aligned with said opening,

a contact jaw disposed within said recess, a con-'1' tact blade hingedly mounted on said support and adapted to be received in said contact jaw to complete the circuit through the switch, said binds in its oioseri chccit position within the ion having or ieest the rector portion thereof loceteol below the front face oi the main hoes of the hose, o lolecle hoois nttocheo to con= tsct hiode and extending through said op mns to the cool; of soiri loose, one opercthoc ct the cool: of the loose ones-semis with in tial hlccle hook: to rotate the blade rorwerrilr or the front rose of themes toeiiect' the switching operation.

7. An electric switch comprising as loose, s. recess in the front face of solo. hose, 2:, conciuct= ins support one? contact jaw clispose in said recess in spoceal relation, as content loiooie hingecliy mounted on saioi support anti odoptecl to cooperate with ssiol contact into to perform the switching operation, seicl iolcrle in closecl circuit position within the jaw honing otieest the major portion thereof located within the recess below the front face of the main heels; of the hose, on opening iroro the heck, of the hose communicating with ssicl recessniecns attached to said contract blade for moving the some and extending through soiri opening to the heels of the base, and, operotins means at the heck of the base enga-geohle with said first mentioned moons to effect rotation of the loiorie forwortiiy oi the front face of the loose to cfiect the switching operstion.

8. An electric switch comprising e, supporting v surface, an insulating loose mounted in spaced relation to said surface, s recess in the front face oi soio hose, hinge and cont-sot jaws disposed in said recess in spsceo relation, o. contact blade hingeoly moun ed-to soiol hinge jaw snri adapted to rotate forwardly of the front face of the hose into one out of seitirecess in cooperating relation with seirl cont-cot icw to perform the switching operation, solo hiecle when in engagement with the jaw having at least the rototion oi the tric cle into one out of engagement with the contoct 9. An electric switch comprising a, supporting surioce, on hose mounted in spaced relation to ssiti otniocne recess in the front face of soicl hinge end, contact dew dis= poses in said recess in spaced relation to said. surface, contact hlsrie hinnedly mounted in said hinge jaw oriented to rotate forwardly of the iront rose of the hose into and out of said recess in ccop-eroting relation with said contact ion to perform the switching operation, said contact hlofle when received within the jaw hawing at least o major portion thereof located within the recess hollow the front face or the main hooly of the loose, ot least a portion of said recess extending through the heck face of the hose, moons attached to soici blade for moving the some and extending through said portion, on operating hoii disposed between said base and said supporting suriece and engaging with said meens to eitect rotation of the contact blade into and out of engagement with the contact jaw, and is readily releasable connection betwen said. boil and ssiri means providing for ready removal of the hose and the parts supported thereon without disturbing the trail.

lit. [in electric switch comprising a, base, on opening through said base, a conducting support disposeriinsoicl opening, a. recess in the front face of said base aligned with said opening, at contact Jew disposed in said recess, a contact biotic hingecily mounted on said support and odcpted to he received .in said contract jaw to close the circuit through the switch, said blade when engaged in ssicl jow havlngot least the meior portion thereof located below the front face of the main body of the base, oblade hook attochezi to ssioi contsct blade and extending spring expending its stored energy to secure a quick breols operation of the contact blade;

JOHN G. JACKSON. 

